Younger generations don't know what they are missing with the demise of great department stores. Who wants to wait for an Amazon delivery when you are missing out on creative window displays, lunch out, and helpful sales people. Thank you for this reminder!
They really are dwindling down to a precious few. I guess the stores/windows on Fifth Ave and 57th Street still live on (and Macy’s Herald Square) but it’s definitely not the heyday. btw, I’m LOVING the vintage magazines you sent, I’m planning a post where they make an appearance! xx
What a special memory of a bygone time shopping for a minidress at this historic department store with your mother and grandma! I agree with Vicki that we’ve lost so much by trading that great in-person shopping experience for Amazon. As our family name was originally Straus, there was a joke that we were related to the Macy’s scions, though there’s no evidence in the family tree. We do have a great love of cheesecake though—and that recipe sounds like a keeper. Thanks, Jolene!
I agree, Ruth, those stores were so great. Love the “Straus” connection — let’s do further investigation! 😉 I really loved this recipe, let me know if you make it — so delicious! 🍰❤️
Yes, I’ll forever wonder about that Straus connection… And cheesecake was another staple in my mother’s baking repertoire. I definitely would like to try this recipe. I’ve never used farmer cheese (nor did she!). I will go for the ricotta!🤗🍰💕
Oh my! Now I want cheesecake for breakfast! I LOVE the sound of the cheesecake contest. This has brought back memories of going to the huge Woolworths on Romford Market here in the UK with my mum and nan. Biggest memory is the cafeteria (in my memory on the top floor) with its multiple shelves of cakes. Hmm - that breakfast omelette I had planned is becoming a lot less appealing...
If you were not on the other side of the Atlantic, I would’ve invited you to a “Cheesecake Breakfast” Jenny! This recipe is definitely worth the effort, let me know if you make it! xx
Thanks, @Jolene! I do love a good NY cheesecake and will definitely be taking this recipe for a spin! When we lived in the ME, my husband and I became obsessed with creating the perfect cheesecake - back then finding one in the desert was a total non-starter, things have thankfully changed haha. But I think we tallied more than three dozen recipes before finally giving up.
Jolene! Wow! That cheesecake sounds divine and thank you for sharing A&S's cheesecake contest story. It reminds me of a far simpler time. A cookbook from the 1980s was totally dedicated to cheesecakes; it was called THE JOY of CHEESECAKE by Dana Bovbjerg and Jeremy Iggers. I feel like this cheesecake is in there. Fascinating book. Thank you again!
What an interesting history and store. Those former glorious stores...! Cheesecake happens to be a fav of mine, so this recipe is now printed out and will try very soon. Thank you so much Jolene for sharing.
I remember the name, my mom talked about it, I think she said it was McCrory’s first? I will investigate! Love a soda counter, including the ones at Woolworth!
The very first dining room in a department store is still going strong here in Chicago, this can be the first stop when you visit: the Walnut Room at the former Marshall Field’s (now Macy’s)!
Wasn't is exciting spending whole afternoons with your teenage friends going from floor to floor trying on stuff we couldn't afford, finding stuff we could, and wandering through all the cosmetic counters? A friend took me to a small town department store yesterday. Two floors, friendly sales people. Made my heart ache! You've brought up so many memeories, and that cheesecake!
Pat, if you like cheesecake, the effort on this one is worth it! Love your description of the small town department store and you and your friends having a blast at A&S. My experience was that is was a ‘special event visit’ we’d left by that point and lived on LI, and my maternal grandmother (not the “Schraffts”grandmother, lol) worked at Boorum and Pease on Jay Street. She LOVED A & S, so these excursions with my mom to see her mom on a weekend (with pre-teen and teen me in tow) live on in my memory. It’s a shame these special stores are dwindling down to a few. Michael who wrote the A&S book said it was as much about community as shopping. xx
Younger generations don't know what they are missing with the demise of great department stores. Who wants to wait for an Amazon delivery when you are missing out on creative window displays, lunch out, and helpful sales people. Thank you for this reminder!
They really are dwindling down to a precious few. I guess the stores/windows on Fifth Ave and 57th Street still live on (and Macy’s Herald Square) but it’s definitely not the heyday. btw, I’m LOVING the vintage magazines you sent, I’m planning a post where they make an appearance! xx
What a special memory of a bygone time shopping for a minidress at this historic department store with your mother and grandma! I agree with Vicki that we’ve lost so much by trading that great in-person shopping experience for Amazon. As our family name was originally Straus, there was a joke that we were related to the Macy’s scions, though there’s no evidence in the family tree. We do have a great love of cheesecake though—and that recipe sounds like a keeper. Thanks, Jolene!
I agree, Ruth, those stores were so great. Love the “Straus” connection — let’s do further investigation! 😉 I really loved this recipe, let me know if you make it — so delicious! 🍰❤️
Yes, I’ll forever wonder about that Straus connection… And cheesecake was another staple in my mother’s baking repertoire. I definitely would like to try this recipe. I’ve never used farmer cheese (nor did she!). I will go for the ricotta!🤗🍰💕
They didn’t have any farmer’s cheese at my market, ricotta worked perfectly, Ruth!
Oh my! Now I want cheesecake for breakfast! I LOVE the sound of the cheesecake contest. This has brought back memories of going to the huge Woolworths on Romford Market here in the UK with my mum and nan. Biggest memory is the cafeteria (in my memory on the top floor) with its multiple shelves of cakes. Hmm - that breakfast omelette I had planned is becoming a lot less appealing...
If you were not on the other side of the Atlantic, I would’ve invited you to a “Cheesecake Breakfast” Jenny! This recipe is definitely worth the effort, let me know if you make it! xx
Oh, Jolene, you had me at "ornate" and the pull of the dreamy, creamy, cheesecakes of my youth!!!!!
Jess, all I could think of was “this better be as good as Oconee!” 🍰 And, it was! 😆
You are cracking me up!!! Not even…scratches memories….Juniors!!!! So many good nemories at Oconee <3
Yes! Cheers to Cheesecake on Main Street! 😂🍰
Thanks, @Jolene! I do love a good NY cheesecake and will definitely be taking this recipe for a spin! When we lived in the ME, my husband and I became obsessed with creating the perfect cheesecake - back then finding one in the desert was a total non-starter, things have thankfully changed haha. But I think we tallied more than three dozen recipes before finally giving up.
Lori, keep me posted, I really love this recipe and it was worth the effort, hope you love it, too! 🍰
Jo, I actually remember that store. Went there with Mom many times. In downtown Brooklyn.
Matt, of course, you were in Brooklyn! It was so beautiful, wasn’t it? The elevators alone!
Oh Jolene!
You are forever knocking me over with big blows of nostalgia.
We always went to A&S for back to school shopping and SOMETIMES for a big treat to eat in the restaurant there. It would have been in the seventies.
I was just trying to explain this to someone last month—the idea of a restaurant in a department store, and that it was Fancy 😄.
Sadly I do not remember cheesecake, but my mom was very partial to Junior’s cheesecake in my youth.
What a sweet memory!”Back to school” shopping and a treat! Love Junior’s cheesecake 🍰 Gabrielle!
Jolene! Wow! That cheesecake sounds divine and thank you for sharing A&S's cheesecake contest story. It reminds me of a far simpler time. A cookbook from the 1980s was totally dedicated to cheesecakes; it was called THE JOY of CHEESECAKE by Dana Bovbjerg and Jeremy Iggers. I feel like this cheesecake is in there. Fascinating book. Thank you again!
Oooh, I’m going to look for it! Thank you so much! xx
If you locate it and thumb through its pages, please try the Snow White cheesecake. I recall it being enlightening.
Will do!
Yum Jolene! Love these important stories from your life woven into recipes.
Thank you so much, Anne! xx
I certainly will!
What an interesting history and store. Those former glorious stores...! Cheesecake happens to be a fav of mine, so this recipe is now printed out and will try very soon. Thank you so much Jolene for sharing.
Thank you so much, Sally, it’s a really delicious cheesecake, so glad you are making it, let me know how it goes! 🍰
I’m in love with this history…and suddenly SO hungry for cheesecake!! 🤤
And I’m dying for a croissant 🥐! 🇫🇷
Anyone remember JJ Newberry’s? Not sure it qualifies as “great” but, oh, that soda counter!
I remember the name, my mom talked about it, I think she said it was McCrory’s first? I will investigate! Love a soda counter, including the ones at Woolworth!
Bake in the store?! AMAZING
Right? Can you imagine, Sally?! What a delicious and fun (and probably chaotic!) day that must’ve been! 🍰
My mum never took me too the restaurants in department stores and I so desperately wanted to go!
They always seemed so chic and posh and alluring… all the fashionable ladies lunching and laughing… colourful shopping bags at their feet.
I wanted to be part of that magical scene so badly! *sigh*
The very first dining room in a department store is still going strong here in Chicago, this can be the first stop when you visit: the Walnut Room at the former Marshall Field’s (now Macy’s)!
Yes! I just love these old time restaurant names! The Walnut Room… so swanky.
Swanky is one of my favorite ways to describe things that are, well, swanky! 🥂
SAME!!! ✨
I just made a reservation for lunch tomorrow, need that Chicken Pot Pie 🥧 and to write about these swanky digs!
Oh yes! I want a FULL report!
Wasn't is exciting spending whole afternoons with your teenage friends going from floor to floor trying on stuff we couldn't afford, finding stuff we could, and wandering through all the cosmetic counters? A friend took me to a small town department store yesterday. Two floors, friendly sales people. Made my heart ache! You've brought up so many memeories, and that cheesecake!
Pat, if you like cheesecake, the effort on this one is worth it! Love your description of the small town department store and you and your friends having a blast at A&S. My experience was that is was a ‘special event visit’ we’d left by that point and lived on LI, and my maternal grandmother (not the “Schraffts”grandmother, lol) worked at Boorum and Pease on Jay Street. She LOVED A & S, so these excursions with my mom to see her mom on a weekend (with pre-teen and teen me in tow) live on in my memory. It’s a shame these special stores are dwindling down to a few. Michael who wrote the A&S book said it was as much about community as shopping. xx